Adopted by the Board of the Norwegian School of Economics on 29 April 2021 under the legal authority of the Act of 1 April 2005 No 15 relating to Universities and University Colleges Sections 3-3, 3-5, 3-6, 3-7, 3-9, 3-10, 3-11, 4-2, 4-3 e and 9-1.

Latest amendment Regulations (31. October 2023) is incorporated in this text.

This English translation is for information purposes only. For all legal purposes, the original document in Norwegian as published in Norsk Lovtidend – Lovdata is the authoritative version.

 

This document relates to the Norwegian grading system and structure of education.

Chapter 1 – General provisions

Section 1-1.    Scope

(1) The provisions of these regulations apply to full-time study programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and assessment in connection with these programmes.

(2) The full-time study programmes include our Bachelor’s Programs (Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration and Bachelor in Business, Economics and Data Science) and our Master’s Programs (Master in Economics and Business Administration and Master in Auditing and Accounting).

(3) The provisions of these regulations will also, insofar as they are appropriate, apply to exchange students and double degree students from foreign institutions with which NHH has an agreement, assessments during the training component of the PhD programme and the National Translator Accreditation Exam.

Section 1-2.    Supplementary provisions

The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs may adopt supplementary provisions within the framework of these regulations.

Section 1-3.    The academic year

The academic year at NHH is divided into two semesters and has a nominal duration of 10 months. The standardised workload for one academic year is 60 credits in accordance with the European ECTS system.

Section 1-4.    Right of appeal

Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Sections 5-2 and 5-3, students have a right to appeal against formal errors in connection with exams and grading. Pursuant to the Public Administration Act Section 28, students may also have a right to appeal against individual decisions made by NHH, cf. the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 7-6.

Section 1-5.    Appeals board

NHH has established an appeals board pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 5-1. The Board has adopted regulations for the Appeals Board that specify its duties.

Section 1-6.    Adaptation

(1) Students with a disability and students with special needs are entitled to suitable individual adaptation of the learning environment, teaching, teaching materials and examinations, in order to ensure equal training and education opportunities, cf. the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 4-3 c. The adaptation must not be at the expense of academic requirements. See also Section 4-6 third paragraph of these Regulations.

(2) Students who need special adaptation of study conditions must submit an application to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs as soon as the need arises. The need must be documented by a certificate from a doctor/specialist. The certificate should describe the disadvantages for the student and proposed measures to remedy them.

Section 1-7.    Laptop computers

Students at NHH must have access to their own laptop computers in connection with teaching and assessment. Requirements apply in relation to equipment and software.

Chapter 2 – Admission

Section 2-1.    Number of places

The number of places on the programmes is decided by the Board pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 3-7.

Section 2-2.    Admission to the study programmes

(1) Admission to the five-year “Siviløkonom”education takes place in accordance with the Regulations for Admission to Higher Education (Regulations No 13 of 6 January 2017), and is administered by the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Samordna opptak). Applications to our English taught Bachelor’s Programme (Bachelor in Business, Economics and Data Science), that is based on a non-Nordic diploma, is administered locally.

(2) The admission of external applicants for the master’s degree programmes takes place in accordance with the Regulations concerning Requirements for the Master’s Degrees (Regulations No 1392 of 1 December 2005), and is administered locally.

(3) The applicant is responsible for submitting documentation in a readable format within the stipulated deadlines.

(4) Candidates who have already completed a degree at NHH cannot be readmitted to a study programme they have already completed.

(5) Readmission to the same or another study programme that includes courses already taken will not cancel out previous assessment attempts, cf. Section 4-8 fourth paragraph.

(6) A place on a programme can be put on hold for up to two years in connection with compulsory military service, pregnancy, birth, adoption and for other weighty reasons. The applicant must accept the offer and apply to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs within the stipulated deadlines to put the place on hold.

Section 2-3.    Right to direct transfer to the master’s degree programme

(1) Completing a bachelor’s degree at NHH entitles students to transfer directly to the master’s degree programmes. In special cases, the Office of Student and Academic Affairs may grant a student who has one course remaining (7.5 credits) the right to transfer to the master’s degree programme. The remaining course cannot be a methods course (code MET), and the reason must be an unforeseen event or that the student has failed one of the courses in the last semester.

(2) The right to direct transfer under the first sentence applies for up to two years after completion of the bachelor’s degree. The student must apply for transfer or interruption of studies by the stipulated deadlines.

Section 2-4.    Right to study

(1) Anyone who, within the stipulated deadlines, has accepted the offer of a place on a programme, completed the semester registration, including confirming their individual education plan, and paid the semester fee to the student welfare organisation Sammen, is granted a right to study for the nominal length of study set out in the relevant programme description. A student can not have the right to study at more than one study programme at the same time at NHH.

(2) In order to retain this right throughout the course of study, the student must repeat the semester registration every semester, including confirming their individual education plan, and pay the semester fee within the stipulated deadline.

(3) The right to study confers a right and a duty to participate in teaching, supervision and assessment, and entails access to learning platforms and other digital services offered by NHH, as well as access to the library, reading rooms, group rooms and other infrastructure on campus.

(4) A student undergoing an additional period of completion pursuant to Section 2-6 has a right to study subject to the limitations that follow from Section 2-6 second and third paragraphs.

Section 2-5.    Follow-up of progress

(1) Students are responsible for their own study progress, but the Office of Student and Academic Affairs keeps track of it. Students who, at the end of a semester, lag behind by 30 credits or more in relation to the nominal length of study may be contacted and receive special follow-up. If contacted, the student are obliged to take part in the follow-up.

(2) A student who continues to lag behind in credits after receiving follow-up may lose their right to study, cf. Section 2-9 first paragraph letter c).

Section 2-6.    Additional period of completion

(1) Students who have not completed the bachelor’s or master’s degree programme they have started within the nominal length of study set out in the programme description are entitled to an additional period of completion of up to two subsequent semesters. The Office of Student and Academic Affairs must be notified of the need for an additional period of completion in the prescribed manner.

(2) Students are granted an additional period of completion to complete the bachelor’s or master’s degree they have started. Students who have not used all their examination attempts, cf. Section 4-8, may resit the exam in previously passed courses. Students undergoing an additional period of completion pursuant to the first paragraph may not change their most recently adopted individual education plan over and above what is required to complete the programme.

(3) The Office of Student and Academic Affairs may only in exceptional cases grant applications for an extension after an additional period of completion pursuant to the first paragraph. The application must be submitted within the deadline for registration pursuant to Section 4-6 the subsequent semester. Any decisions on special extensions shall be limited in time. In the event of special needs, this limited right to study may be further extended.

(4) Students who are granted special extension under this paragraph are not entitled to resit the exam in previously passed courses. They are only entitled to complete their actual studies and regardless of the stated expiry date, this limited study right will cease when the student has achieved the bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Section 2-7.    Repealed

Section 2-8.    Automatic loss of right to study

(1)  In addition to what is stated in Section 2-6, second and fourth paragraphs on automatic loss of study right, the student right at NHH ceases when the student reports that she or he wants to terminate the study in question.

(2) A student who already has the right to study at a study programme at NHH loses this upon admission to another study programme at NHH, cf. Section 2-4 (1).

Section 2-9.    Loss of right to study

(1) Students may lose their right to study if they:

1. fail to complete the semester registration and pay the semester fee within the stipulated deadline
2. have exceeded the nominal length of study in accordance with the applicable individual study plan and the additional period of completion pursuant to Section 2-6
3. lag behind by 60 credits or more at the end of a semester, cf. Section 2-5
4. have used all their assessment attempts pursuant to Section 4-8
5. in connection with verification, fail to present the original documents forming the basis for admission or the issuing of diplomas
6. are expelled due to cheating, attempted cheating or involvement in cheating

(2) Decisions on loss of the right to study under letters a) to f) are made by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. Decisions on loss of the right to study under letter g) are made by the Appeals Board on the Office of Student and Academic Affairs’ recommendation.

Section 2-10.  Post-study right

(1) Candidates who have completed the Master’s Programme in Auditing and Accounting at NHH without having achieved the grade required to become a state authorised public accountant may, on application, be granted a post-study right to retake individual courses.

(2) The condition for being granted a post-study right pursuant to the first paragraph is that the candidate has not used all their attempts pursuant to Section 4-8 and that an assessment is carried out in the course. The result achieved will be stated on the transcript of grades, cf. Sections 7-1 and 7-2.

(3) Candidates who are planning to undergo an internship/practical training period in Europe within 12 months of completing their bachelor’s or master’s degree at NHH on an Erasmus+ grant will be registered with a post-study right during the practical training period. The post-study right pursuant to this paragraph does not confer the right to take courses at NHH.

Section 2-11.  Admission to individual courses

(1) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 3-10, persons who have not been admitted to NHH are also entitled to undergo assessment in courses at NHH. The condition is that they meet the conditions for admission to the study programme the course is part of, as well as any other conditions for undergoing assessment.

(2) The right pursuant to the first paragraph lapses if the programme or course description stipulates requirements for compulsory teaching, practical training, written assignments or similar, when this in itself leads to significant competence that is part of the purpose of the education, and this competence cannot be tested through ordinary assessment.

Chapter 3 – Programme descriptions, individual education plans, recognition and leaves of absence

Section 3-1.    Programme descriptions and course descriptions

(1) All study programmes shall be described in a plan setting out the academic content of the programme. All courses forming part of a programme description shall be described in a course description. Students must familiarise themselves with the relevant programme description and course descriptions.

(2) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 3-3, it is the Board that adopts new programme descriptions. The Board may delegate this authority. The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs may adopt changes to existing programme descriptions.

(3) A course description is devised by the person responsible for the course, and adopted by the person authorised to do so under a mandate or supplementary provisions.

(4) The programme description shall, as a minimum, specify:

1. expected learning outcomes
2. what courses the programme includes
3. scope of credits
4. the possibility of stays abroad
5. which courses make up the specialisation in the degree
6. the structure of the study programme, what is compulsory and elective, and the order of courses
7. requirements for study progress, if applicable

(5) The course description shall, as a minimum, specify:

1. expected learning outcomes
2. requirements for prerequisite knowledge and special admission requirements, if applicable
3. the teaching semester and whether assessment is offered outside the teaching semester
4. academic content
5. learning methods
6. language of instruction
7. scope of the course in the form of credits
8. any compulsory activities (work requirements)
9. the assessment arrangement, grade scale and internal weighting between the various forms of assessment that make up the final grade
10. any credit reduction due to overlapping courses
11. restricted admission, if applicable

Section 3-2.    Individual education plans

(1) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 4-2, NHH and students admitted to programmes with a scope of 60 credits or more shall draw up an individual education plan. In principle, the plan shall be devised so that the student can complete the planned study programme within the nominal length of study in accordance with the applicable programme description.

(2) The plan shall, as far as possible, be drawn up within the stipulated deadline in the first semester of the programme. Subsequent changes to the plan must be made before it is adopted each semester within the stipulated deadline, cf. Section 2-4 second paragraph. The plan can also be changed by agreement between the student and NHH, cf. Section 2-7.

Section 3-3.    Recognition

(1) Students with a right to study can apply for recognition of courses they have taken previously, cf. the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 3-5 e. The application must be submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs within the stipulated deadlines. The conditions for recognition are that the course corresponds to a course offered at NHH. The course the application concerns must have at least the same scope measured in credits, be at least on the same level (bachelor/master) and have the same content/learning outcomes (breadth/depth) as the NHH course. A passed NHH course cannot be replaced by an external course as described here.

(2) The general requirement for institutional affiliation set out in Section 6-1 and the special requirement relating to the issuing of a new degree set out in Section 6-2 may restrict the possibility provided for under the first paragraph.

(3) A student may be granted approval of up to 30 credits based on courses taken at an educational institution abroad in connection with an exchange organised by NHH. Separate rules apply to double degrees awarded in cooperation with international partner institutions.

(4) Students who have been granted recognition of a course may nonetheless choose to take the course at NHH. In such case, the decision granting recognition will lapse.

Section 3-4.    Leave of absence

(1) Leave is granted on the basis of Sections 4-3 d and 4-3 e of the Universities and University Colleges Act.

(2) Leave of absence may also be granted to perform particularly demanding offices in student associations or other public duties.

(3) Applications for leave of absence shall be submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs. The reason must be documented in the application, which must be submitted by 1 September or 1 February. If the need arises after the application deadline has expired, the application must be submitted as soon as the student becomes aware of the need for a leave. Leave can be granted no earlier than from and including the semester in which the application was submitted.

(4) A period of leave pursuant to this provision extends the right to study the student had been granted at the time the application was submitted.

(5) Students who return after a leave must follow the programme description that applies at the time of return.

Chapter 4 – Assessment (exams) and compulsory activities (work requirements)  

Section 4-1.    Principles for assessment

(1) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 3-9, NHH is obliged to ensure that candidates’ knowledge and skills are tested and assessed in an impartial and academically sound manner.

(2) Only candidates with a valid right to study are entitled to undergo assessment.

Section 4-2.    Prerequisite knowledge and compulsory activities (work requirements)

(1) Any requirements for prerequisite knowledge and compulsory activities (work requirements) that are a condition for assessment shall be clearly specified in the course description.

(2) Students who do not complete the required compulsory activity (work requirements) will not be given an opportunity to undergo assessment in the course. See also Section 4-5.

Section 4-3.    Deadlines for submission

(1) Students are obliged to familiarise themselves with and meet the deadlines for written assignments that form part of courses at NHH. The deadlines stipulated for an assessment arrangement are absolute. Other deadlines relating to completion of the course are absolute unless the course coordinator states otherwise.

(2) In connection with assessment (exams), it is not possible to supplement or replace a submitted assignment after the deadline for submission. Regardless of the deadline set for submission, a master’s thesis that has been submitted may not subsequently be supplemented or replaced.

Section 4-4.    Assessment forms, assessment arrangements and grade scales

(1) The assessment arrangement used in a course may consist of one form of assessment or a combination of several forms (parts). Special requirements may be set for the completion of an assessment arrangement. The course description shall specify which form of assessment is used, cf. Section 3-1 fifth paragraph. If a combination of several forms of assessment are used, the weighting of the different parts must also be specified. Passed result presuppose that all parts are passed.

(2) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 3-9, the grades pass/fail or a grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail shall be used in connection with exams, tests, the evaluation of assignments or other form of assessment. The two assessment expressions cannot be combined in the same course. For conversion purposes, letter grades correspond to the following numerical values: A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1.

Section 4-5.    Assessment semester

(1) Assessment takes place during the teaching semester for all courses. If the Programme manager decide that assessment also is offered outside the teaching semester, it shall be specified in the course description cf. Section 3-1 fifth paragraph.

(2) Assessment takes place in accordance with the syllabus, the requirements for prerequisite knowledge, the requirements for compulsory activities (work requirements) and the assessment arrangement that has been established for the course at the time of assessment.

(3) When a compulsory course is discontinued, assessments shall, as a rule, be carried out for two subsequent semesters after the last ordinary assessment.

(4) In special cases, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs may decide that assessment shall be offered over and above what follows from this provision.

Section 4-6.    Registration, deadline for withdrawal and applications for adaptation

(1) Students are responsible for registering for assessment by 1 September and 1 February.

(2) The deadline for withdrawal from an assessment pursuant to the first paragraph is set out in the supplementary provisions to this Section. Failure to withdraw from assessment by the stipulated deadline will count as one examination attempt, cf. Section 4-8.

(3) Students who need adaptation in connection with assessments due to a disability or other special needs must submit an application within the deadline for registration pursuant to the first paragraph. If the need for adaptation arises after the deadline, the application must be submitted as soon as possible. The reason must be documented in the application. See also Section 1-6.

Section 4-7.    Non-attendance and termination of assessment

(1) A student registered for assessment who fails to attend at the stipulated time will be registered as ‘did not attend’. Non-attendance will count as one attempt pursuant to Section 4-8.

(2) To avoid having the attempt count pursuant to Section 4-8, a student who does not attend or who is unable to complete/go through with the assessment must, on the first working day after the interrupted assessment at the latest, submit documentation that the interruption was due to illness or other circumstances beyond their control (force majeure).

(3) A paper submitted by a student cannot be exempt from grading.

Section 4-8.    Number of attempts

(1) On the condition that assessment is carried out, a student has two attempts to undergo assessment in the same course. Students in the Master’s Programme in Accounting and Auditing have three attempts to undergo assessment in the same course. The best result counts.

(2) If changes are made to the requirements for compulsory activity (work requirements) and the assessment arrangement, students may be required to retake the whole course, cf. Section 4-5 second paragraph.

(3) If the assessment arrangement consists of several parts or forms of assessment, the number of attempts applies to the assessment form as a whole and not the individual parts or forms of assessment. Even if a student only completes one of several forms of assessment (parts) of the assessment arrangement, this counts as one attempt.

(4) The limitation in the number of assessment attempts applies to the whole course. Previous attempts count even if the course has changed codes, is included with different codes in several study programmes or the student has been admitted to the same or a different study programme that the course is included in.

(5) In special cases, the Office of Student and Academic Affairs may grant a student who has used all their attempts pursuant to the first paragraph, without having passed the course, one more chance to undergo assessment in the same course.

(6) Master’s students may only submit a master’s thesis once for the same master’s degree programme at NHH, cf. Section 6-3. The candidate will only be given an opportunity to submit a reworked thesis for assessment if they are awarded a fail grade.

(7) Students with a special extension pursuant to Section 2-6 third paragraph will not be given an opportunity to undergo a new assessment pursuant to the first paragraph.

Section 4-9.    Special deadlines for announcing grades

(1) The Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 3-9 fourth paragraph authorises the Board of NHH to make an exception from the ordinary three-week deadline for announcing grades in three types of cases. This applies to

1. individual exams through a decision by the Board
2. a general time-limited exception set out in temporary regulations
3. exceptions for dissertations and similar large written works stipulated in regulations

(2) The Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 3-9 fourth paragraph sets out a special deadline for announcing grades of six weeks for master’s theses, dissertations or similar written works with a scope of at least 10 credits.

Chapter 5 – Cheating

Section 5-1.    Cheating

(1) Cheating is a serious breach of trust in relation to NHH, fellow students and society in general. NHH therefore responds strongly to all forms of cheating when conducting courses and assessments at NHH.

(2) The following are examples of cheating:

1. acting in contravention of Chapter 5 of the supplementary provisions adopted pursuant the regulations
2. using or being in the possession of non-permitted support material during assessment
3. presenting other people’s work as one’s own
4. presenting one’s own previous work as something new (self-plagiarism)
5. quoting sources or in other ways using sources in written work without properly stating the source
6. gaining access to assessment by cheating in a test or similar activity that is a condition for undergoing assessment
7. being granted approval, on false grounds, for participation in compulsory teaching activities or other compulsory activities
8. unlawful cooperation or contact with others during an assessment
9. manipulating a paper after it has been submitted
10. dishonest acts or circumstances aimed at giving a candidate an unfair advantage in connection with meeting conditions for compulsory activities (work requirements) or in connection with assessment
11. acts that in other ways may prevent the candidate’s knowledge and skills from being tested and assessed in an impartial and academically sound manner (cf. Section 4-1)

 

(3) Attempts at and involvement in cheating can be sanctioned in the same way as cheating.

Section 5-2.    Criterion of liability and sanctions

The criterion of liability and sanctions imposed in the event of cheating follow from the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Sections 4-7 (annulment) and 4-8 (exclusion).

Chapter 6 – Requirements for degrees

Section 6-1.    Requirement for institutional affiliation

Pursuant to Section 3 of the Regulations on crediting and exemption from Higher Education (Forskrift om godskriving og fritak av høyere utdanning, FOR-2018-12-21-2221), at least 60 of the credits that are to be included in the calculation basis when awarding degrees or issuing diplomas must be taken at NHH.

Section 6-2.    Requirement for new education – Bachelor and Master of Economics and Business Administration

(1) Students who are granted recognition of education that has previously formed part of the calculation basis for a bachelor’s or master’s degree must take at least 90 new credits at NHH before they can be awarded a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration, cf. Section 4 of the Regulations on crediting and exemption from Higher Education (Forskrift om godskriving og fritak av høyere utdanning, FOR-2018-12-21-2221).

(2) An exception applies to degrees awarded in cooperation with other Norwegian or foreign institutions, and in cases where parts of the degree are recognized on the basis of another master’s degree taken at NHH.

(3) The student must inform NHH of any diplomas issued by another university or university college.

(4) A new degree will not be awarded for a new programme option/specialization in the same study programme.

Section 6-3.    The master’s thesis – the independent work

(1) The master’s thesis must be completed as part of the master’s degree programme at NHH. Degrees awarded in cooperation with other Norwegian or foreign institutions are exempt from this requirement.

(2) An exemption from the main rule set out in the first paragraph can also be made for students who complete the Master’s Programme in Auditing and Accounting as a one-year supplementary study to another master’s degree programme.

Section 6-4.    Siviløkonom – additional designation to Master of Economics and Business Administration

Students who, when they are admitted to the Master’s Programme in Economics and Business Administration, meet the requirement for the combination of subjects stipulated by the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions (UHR), will be awarded the protected title siviløkonom as an additional designation on their diploma on having completed the Master’s Programme in Economics and Business Administration.

Chapter 7 – Diplomas and transcripts of grades

Section 7-1.    Diplomas

(1) Diplomas for degrees are issued when the student meets the requirements set out in the applicable programme description. A student who achieves the degree before the expiry of what is stated as the normal time in the programme description may choose to postpone the issuance of the diploma to the ordinary study right pursuant to section 2-4.

(2) Each diploma can only be issued once. If a diploma is lost, NHH can issue a copy of the diploma on application. NHH may withhold a student’s diploma if it emerges in connection with verification that the student has failed to present the original documents forming the basis for admission or issuing of the diploma.

Section 7-2.    Transcripts of grades

(1) A student who has taken credits at NHH may ask for a transcript of grades containing an overview of all courses the student has passed at NHH.

(2) Transcripts of grades are normally issued digitally. A paper copy of the transcript may be issued to students who can document that they need it.

(3) Courses passed after the requirements for a grade are met will only be documented by a transcript of grades.

Chapter 8 – Concluding provisions

Section 8-1.    Entry into force

(1) These regulations enter into force on 1 August 2021.

(2) Regulations (No 886 of 13 June 2018) for full-time study programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) are repealed from the same date.